Charlotte Hornets
It has been well documented that the Eastern Conference is absolutely stacked, but after making the conference finals last year and only losing eleven games in the regular season, Charlotte are running it back and will still be one of the teams to beat out East. Length is the name of the game for Charlotte, with all five positions being interchangeable on defense, able to affect passing lanes and contest shots at the rim where they lead the league, averaging 9.7 blocks per game. The best teams in the league are fluent with their ball movement while not being lackadaisical with their passes. Charlotte are exactly that, ranking sixth in the league for assists with 28.5 per game but are the best team in terms of protecting the ball, only turning it over 7.2 times a game. 

Pheonix Suns
Pheonix's record to start the season is not indicative of the talent on their roster but more so represents the injuries that have stunted the potential of this Suns squad. Even though they have recorded 4 wins, 3 losses and are sitting in fifth spot in the West, this team should be in amongst the conversations of the undefeated squads in the league. Hopefully though for Suns, maybe not for the rest of the league, that in week three, we get to see the Pheonix Suns rising high. Like a scientist in the lab, Penny has been carefully constructing this team and patiently waiting for it to come together, but due to injuries we haven't seen it yet. Week three is the grand reveal and uts only right that we spotlight in in game of the week. It's hard to highlight stats and what this team is good and bad at because this week it is a completely different team so let's just sit back and watch some quality players ball out.

Centre
Demarcus Cousins v Joel Embiid 
Coming off a knee injury and achilles rupture, Cousins isn't quite the player that he used to be a couple of years ago but on a team like Phoenix, all he needs to do is play his role and that is exactly what he does. The name of the game for Cousins is rebounding, defense and using his big body to wrestle some of these gorillas in the NLL. Averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds per game, it's the defense that has been outstanding with 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Even though Richard Holmes arrow is on the upward trajectory, if Cousins continues to play the way he has for the first two weeks, he will be the starting five for the Suns.
Its plain and simple, Joel Embiid is one of the most destructive and dominant big men in the league at both ends of the court. Embiid has the ability to spread the floor, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc and the combination of low post moves and flat out bullying people inside, it seems like an impossible task to contain him one on one but if you choose to double, Embiid is a good enough passer and with the shooting surrounding him, it's a pick your poison situation. Defensively, Embiid is always going to be in the defensive player of the year conversation. Averaging 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, Embiid's defensive timing and size make him a force on that end of the court.
Cousins role for Pheonix is to stop guys exactly like Embiid but even so, I think this is a tough match up for anybody.
Advantage - Charlotte

Power Forward
Kevin Durant v Kristaps Porzingis 
After a year and two weeks on the sidelines following a ruptured achilles, week three should see the return of Kevin Durant to the NLL. Acquired from Chicago in 2019, Penny knew it was going to be a waiting game to get a fit Durant in the Suns uniform and also a lot of praying that he would come back and resemble something of his pre injury self, as the success rate coming back from that sort of injury is quite low. All the snippets that have been seen on Pheonix social media accounts makes it look like Durant will be every bit of the dominate force he was in the 2019 season, where he played 74 games, averaging 40 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. MVP! MVP! MVP!
In this day of age, it seems like the term "unicorn'" gets thrown out towards any big man that can stretch the floor. The term "unicorn" only really started to bloosm around the 2015 draft, when people were describing Kristaps Porzingis. 7 foot 3, can spread the floor, handle the ball and bring the defense around the rim, Porzingis is the model for the modern day big in this league. Unfortunately, some lower limb injuries have stunted his progression somewhat but averaging 13 and 10 with 3 blocks per game, Porzingis is on his way to another productive season.
This is gonna be a great match up. How do you combat KD's length? With length of course. I think Durant might have the slight edge just from a agility point of view but we will see how the achilles holds up in the first week back.
Advantage - Pheonix

Small Forward
Jimmy Butler v Micheal Porter Jr
Similar to Durant, Jimmy Butler is set to make his regular season debut for the Pheonix Suns in week three. Health and safety protocols have kept Butler out for the first two weeks of the season but he has now been cleared of Covid - 19 and is healthy enough to join the team. Will he be lethargic in his first week back, we shall see but the Suns will welcome him back with open arms. Butler is a leader and a competative beast. Last season, Butler was the only real notable star on this team and still willed his team to a .500 record and the 7th seed in the West. Putting up 21 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season, Butler might not have to do so much heavy lifting but will be right in there when it comes to the crunch, affecting the game at both ends of the floor.
I think this is the season that we see what Micheal Porter Jr is really about. With flashes of brilliance in the 74 games last season, it's clear that Micheal Porter Jr has the potential to be a superstar in this league but with a major back injury coming out of college, constant injuries throughout last year and the question marks on his defense, this season, people will be watching. Offensively, the atheism, combined with the polished perimeter scoring and ability to score over anybody, just the thought has managers lacking their lips around the league. Averaging 9 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Porter has had a modest start to the season but his production will increase if there is any sort of Charlotte injury.
I think this match up comes down to experience and pecking order. Micheal Porter Jr is the fifth option on offense at the moment and with Jimmy Butler guarding, it might be a quiet night for Porter. On the other end, Butler might have his way in this one.
Advantage - Pheonix

Shooting Guard
Gary Trent Jr v Brandon Ingram
I believe Gary Trent Jr will be the starting two guard for the Pheonix Suns and this might just come down to the fact that there are only so many shots to go around and to put another shooter in at this position might just complicate things but I think someone needs to tell Gary that. In the absences of Durant and Butler, Trent Jr has been playing the secondary option on offense and is a reason why Pheonix have been able to stay in games. Putting up 21 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc, to go with a splattering of other stats, Trent Jr is still bring the defense, swiping 1.7 steals per game as well. It will be interesting to see how he lots back into a lesser role when the big boys return to the line up.
Labelled as the next Kevin Durant coming out of Duke, Brandon Ingram is starting to make a dint in those lofty expectations. Last season, I believe Ingram was coming off the bench and torching teams but due to starting slightly more than 50 percent of his games, he didn't qualify for the sixth man award. Still, what a luxury for Charlotte to have. This season though, Ingram has cemented himself as the starting shooting guard and will finally do battle with his comparison. Small sample size but averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists to start the season is nice but also getting a steal and 1.7 blocks per game, Ingram is putting that length to good use.
Even though he is somewhat of a defensive specialist, this is going to be a tough night for Trent Jr. Ingram's length at the two is absurd and when he rises up, good luck to whoever is guarding him.
Advantage - Charlotte

Point Guard
Kyle Lowry v James Murray
Penny was determined to get a three headed monster to start the 2021 season and in a trade with the Toronto Raptors this off season, he brought in the third head of this monster in Kyle Lowry. At 34 years old, you know exactly what you are going to get from the vetern point guard. A facilitator, a three point bomber and an absolute bulldog on the defensive end of the floor. Lowry also missed week one but returned in week two and is already establishing himself as a fan favourite in Pheonix, averaging 30 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, while shooting 43 percent from deep.
Despite all the talent on this Charlotte roster, Jamal Murray might be the most dangerous player of the lot. The definition of a heat check, when Murray gets hot, there is very little you can do to slow him down. Elite ball handling allows him to do as he pleases on the offensive end of the court, either crossing 
you up and blowing by to the cup or one of the few blokes in this league with unlimited range. Averaging 16 points, 8 assists and a steal per game, at 23 years of age, Murray is going to rain terror on us all for many years to come.
I would say that this one comes down to defense verse offense but that's not actually the case as Lowry is playing great on the offensive end of the floor too. I think Lowry just because of his defense but if that microwave starts cooking, good luck.
Advantage - Phoenix

Bench
With the starting line ups being so closely matched, the bench is going to be vital to this match up. The fact that Charlotte has Jrue Holiday coming off the bench is absolutely disrespectful to the majority of the league. He should be the starting point guard on a team but the speaks volumes to their starting five. Eric Pascal and Kevin Knox are the other notable guys in this rotation, with both contributing what they can to the cause. 
The majority of the Pheonix bench has been starting for the past couple of weeks with their stars out so they are ready. Their back up centre and forwards are real nice with Holmes, Clarke and now Batum who has remembered how to play basketball again. With Micheal Carter Williams out though, their back court depth is lacking.

Prediction
This is gonna be one heck of game! Charlotte is the established, proven team that knows each other well and knows each others plays and movements before they probably even do but Pheonix is the new shiny car that you just want to take and test drive on the open road. This might surprise some people but even though there will be mistakes and some questionable decisions, I'm taking the Suns in a nail biter. 
Pheonix 126 defeat Charlotte 124